Mum’s plea to drivers

Nov 19 2008 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Wednesday

THE mum of a teenager who was badly injured in a car accident has given her support to a winter road safety campaign.

Pauline Howie’s daughter Jennifer was just 19 when the car in which she was a passenger was involved in an accident four years ago.

Jennifer, now 23, was left requiring 24-hour care following the crash.

At the launch of the three-month-long Winter Safe Journeys road safety campaign last Thursday, Pauline, from Alva, backed the strong message of this year’s campaign – that your actions on the road could change somebody’s life forever.

She said: “It took just a few minutes of carelessness for Jennifer’s life to be turned upside down.

“She had everything to look forward in life. Jennifer was a lively independent 19-year-old who loved socialising and going clubbing. She had left college and was planning on joining the police when the accident happened.

“Jennifer is now reliant on support for everyday activities in life and needs 24-hour care.”

She added: “I urge all motorists to slow down and to think about how they are driving. Instead of thinking it will never happen to you, change that thought to ‘it could happen to you’. Err on the side of caution when driving and don’t take risks.

“Before the crash we always thought ‘it happens to other people’ but that night of the accident we became ‘other people’.

“If this campaign can stop one family from going through what we have experienced then it will have been worthwhile.”

Traditionally at this time year, with the darker mornings and longer nights, the number of collisions increase. Winter Safe Journeys is designed to make road users and pedestrians aware that their actions could ultimately cause a collision.

Chief Inspector Donald McMillan, Head of the Road Policing Unit, said: “This is the third winter campaign we have run with Diageo and Central FM.

“This year we welcome on board the Automobile Association who bring a wealth of experience and a different perspective on how we can tackle some of the road policing issues.

“Our campaign will focus on the many aspects of road policing that we carry out including drink/drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, using mobile phones while driving, speeding and young drivers.”

Chief Inspector McMillan also warned: “We will be out in force over the winter months and we will be taking significant action in relation to road-related offences. All drivers involved in collisions, and those stopped for committing a moving traffic offence, will be breath-tested as a matter of routine.”

Partners in the initiative also spoke about the importance of the campaign.

Edmund King, the AA president, said: “The winter road safety campaign is fully backed by the AA because we know it can make a difference.

“We urge motorists to adapt their driving to winter conditions as the roads are more dangerous in the darker, wetter and icier conditions.”

Ann Marie Miller, station manager of Central FM, said: “We are again delighted to be working with Central Scotland Police, the AA and Diageo to get the message across about safe driving.

“Central FM takes this campaign straight to the drivers in their cars making it possible to deliver the safety messages while people are actually driving.”

Robert McElroy, from Diageo, said: “The winter road safety campaign forms part of our commitment to encourage people to be a safe road user.”